Wednesday, 8 November; Washington DC

It is a cold, over cast morning, but at least it is not raining.  We had an appointment to take my car in at 9 am.  I still hadn't heard from Lexus headquarters or from the Alexandria Dealership. We drove in there and were taken care of.  They did finally tell me that the part had arrived. They gave us a loner car and we headed out. 

Today we are exploring Washington DC.  I was here many moons ago and checked out a couple museums, but hadn't been to any of the monuments, so we are checking them out today. There are new ones since Rob has been here.
We parked near the Tidal Basin off the Potomac River and Independence Ave.  From here we could see The Thomas Jefferson off in the distance, the Lincoln Memorial off in the Distance and The Washington Monument .
We walked off along East Basin drive and Ohio Drive SW until we came upon a jaw-draping rotunda which crowns the memorial to our 3rd president, the author of the Declaration of Independence and advocate for individual freedoms....Thomas Jefferson Memorial.

Rob ran up these steps as he did the steps where Rocky ran in Philadelphia.

 Along the way, thankfully there were maps so we knew where we were and what was coming up along the way.  That was very helpful

We continued on to "The legacy of our nation's longest-serving president which is recalled in a captivating timeline which they say is best experienced by walking from north to south. "  The Franklin D. Roosevelt Memorial. We, of course, went the opposite dirrection.  

 Next we went on to the massive granite.  "His words form a backdrop to the massive granite sculpture honoring the civil rights leader and proponent of peace, justice and equality".....Martin Luther King Jr.

 Next we went to a new Memorial.  "United Nations forces joined to defend freedom on the Korean Peninsula from 1950 to 1953.  The memorial pays tribute to the branches of service and recalls the hardships endured and sacrifices made during the conflict."  The Korea War Veterans Memorial

Meanwhile, I got a call from Alexandria Lexus telling me that My Engine Oil Sensor is fine, but a rodent had eaten my wiring to the sensor and they were going to fix that.  It wasn't ready yet, but it would be today.  Those Idiots at Watertown how did they get it so wrong?!

We walked off down Independence Ave until we arrived at "A temple to the savior of the Union and ""The Great Emancipator "" the Lincoln Memorial".  

From here we could see the reflecting pond and the Washington Monument at the other end of the pond.

We continued on to the extremely moving....."This place of healing and remembrance honors the men and women who gave their lives in service in the Vietnam conflict."

While we were observing the wall volunteers were reading off the names of those who had fallen with their names on the wall. It was really quite moving 

Adjacent to the Wall is The Three Soldier Statue, In Memory Plaque, and .......

 the Vietnam Women's Memorial.

 Next we headed on over to another New Memorial.  This is actually at the end of the reflecting pond and across from the Lincoln Memorial
"Commemorating the spirit of unity in the defense of our nation, this memorial plaza honors the sacrifice of over 400,000 American lives in defense of freedom.

Th United States entered the Second World War in 1941 not to conquer, but to liberate a world fast falling to forces of tyranny.  The World War II Memorial honors the 16 million who served in uniform, of whom over 400,000 gave their lives.  It also honors the many millions who supported the war effort on the home front and celebrates the American spirit, national unity, and victory.  It recognizes the price paid by families.  The flag, red rectangle with white rectangle in the middle and a blue star in the center, signified a son or daughter in service and was proudly in windows nation-wide (it is still displayed today for those deployed overseas).  It was all too often replaced by a gold star signifying another casualty of war.  

 Wreaths of oak and wheat on each of the memorial's pillars symbolize the nation's industrial and agricultural strength both of which were essential to the success of the global war effort. Roll call of the nation: The 56 U.S. states, territories, and District of Columbia that united in a common cause are inscribed on these pillars. The Twin Atlantic and Pacific Pavilions symbolize a war fought across two oceans.

 The memorial celebrates a generation of Americans who emerged from the Depression to fight and win the most devastating war in world history.  Americans and their allies triumphed over tyranny.  An unprecedented unity at home saw the nation become the world's breadbasket and industrial arsenal.  In a spirit of sacrifice, Americans rationed at home and channeled the nation's might to help restore freedom to millions.  The World War II Memorial reminds future generations that we must sometimes sacrifice o\for causes greater than ourselves.  This war that changed the world was "fought across six of the world's seven continents and all of its oceans," British historian John Keegan wrote. "It killed 50 million human beings, left hundreds of millions of others wounded in mind and body..." and devastated great parts of the world.  After the war, though the innovative Marshall Plan, the United States helped both its allies and former foes rebuild. 
We actually missed out, because we approached from the Lincoln Memorial side and did not go around and walk on the other side.  On the other side is a Freedom wall of 4,000 gold stars commemorating the more than 400,000 americans the gave their lives.  Also, on each side of the memorial's ceremonial entrance (which we did not enter) on 17th street, 12 bas-relief sculptures recall scenes of America at war.  In one scene a family gathers around its radio to hear President Franklin D. Roosevelt ask Congress for a declaration of war after japan bombed Pearl Harbor in the Hawaiian Islands.
In 1993 Congress authorized the American Battle Monuments Commission to establish a World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C. Selected in a national competition, Friedrich St. Florian designed the memorial. Funded mostly by private donations, it was begun in September 2001 and dedicated on May 29, 2004.
Ideals of Democracy:  Placing the memorial between the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial reflects the importance of World War II in preserving and internationalizing democratic ideals won under George Washington and defended under Abraham Lincoln.  This memorial continues America's Story of striving for freedom and individual rights.
Next we checked out the Washington Monument and the views of the capital.

We headed back to the car. 

and then headed off down town for some food.  All the old buildings are so pretty.

We went into a restaurant call Old Ebbitt Grill.  Located two blocks from the White House, Old Ebbitt Grill has been a natural gathering place for presidents and general, lobbyists and theatergoers since 1856.  

The Cabinet Room features six paintings of game birds by Australian-born (and longtime Georgetown resident) Robin Hill, one of the world's most distinguished bird painters and artists.
The place has 4 bars along with the main dinning room and Cabinet Room.  There was a 40 min. wait for a table so we went to one of the bars and ate lunch at the bar.  The bar tender and very nice and the food was good.
From there we walked on down to the White House passing other beautiful buildings and statues along the way.

We certainly were not able to get as close to it as we have been able to in the past.  They had double fences and police officers standing by and everything.  And,.....The President isn't even there, he is on his Asia tour.  It was still nice being there thought.
From there we got back into the car and drove over to Arlington National Cemetery where we "Honored, Remembered and Explored"

Monuments, memorial and dedicated trees commemorating  individuals and significant events in our Nation's history are interspersed throughout the cemetery among the headstones of service members for whom Arlington is the final resting place  They honor events and members from all branches of the military, and also pay respect to astronauts, nurses, chaplains, war correspondents and unknown, just to name a few.  These men and women will never be forgotten - their legacies will live on and forever be a part of our national fabric.

We walked through the cemetery and up the hill to the Kennedy memorial with the eternal flame and saw the graves of John F. Jacquline and the two infants lost in child birth.

As we walked down the hill we saw the headstones for Robert, Teddy and JFK Jr.
The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, one of Arlington's most weak-known memorials, includes the remains of unknown service members from World War I, World War II and the Korean War. Soldiers from the 3d U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) keep a 24-hours-a-day, 365-days-a-year vigil at the Tomb, with an elaborate ritual to change the guard every hour (or half-hour April 1 through September 30)

We watched the changing of the guard ceremony which was awesome and afterward we watched two floral wreath presentations.  They were presented by local schools.  Four students at each of the two presentations walked down and presented the wreath to the guard.  Then taps was played on the bugle.  It was very moving. The wreaths that were being replaced were placed on the marble behind the tomb.
Arlington National Cemetery is comprised of land that once belonged to George Washington Park Custis, grandson of Martha Washington and step-grandson of George Washington.  In 1857 Custis willed the 1,100-acre property to his daughter Mary Anna Randolph Custis, who was married to Robert E. Lee. After the Lee family vacated the estate in 1861 at the onset of the Civil War, federal troops occupied the property as a camp and headquarters.
In 1863, the government established Freedman's Village on a portion of the estate as a way to assist slaves transitioning to freedom.  The village provided housing, education, training and medical car.
As the number of Civil War casualties was outpacing other local Washington, D.C.-based cemeteries, the property became a burial location.  The first military burial took place on May 13, 1864, for Private William christian.  On June 15, the War Department officially set aside approximately 200 acres of the property to use as a cemetery.  By the end of the war, thousands of service members and former slaves were buried here.  Ultimately, the Lee family was compensated for the property and the land remained with the War Department.
Arlington National Cemetery has evolved from a place of necessity to a national shrine to those who have honorably served our Nation during times of war - including every military conflict in American history - and during times of peace.  the cemetery is the final resting place for more than 400,000 active duty service members, veterans, and their families. "Service to Country" is the common threat that binds all who are honored and remembered here.
The cemetery remains active with funeral services Monday though Saturday (except federal holidays), conducting between 27 and 30 services each week day and between 6 and  8 services each Saturday.  
More than 3,000 ceremonies and memorial services also take place at the cemetery each year, including national observances for Memorial Day and Veterans Day held at the Memorial Amphitheater.
We left the Cemetery and headed back to our car again.

We drove on out, passing the Pentagon as we headed out of the city.

We headed off to go and pick up my car.  They called and said it was done.  We had to wait a bit for them to bring me my car  but they had vacuumed it and all the warning lights were off.

The woman handling my case at Headquarters finally called everybody and due to the history and issues I had with Watertown they comped this service.  That was nice.  The part they said I needed, that they ordered and I didn't need after all would have been $600. plus labor.  As it turned out the wiring and labor was out $400. and thankfully I didn't have to pay for it.  

We went on home.

Arlington Nat'l Cemetery and changing of the guard and wreaths at Tomb of Unknown Soldier.